Process of making cellular tubes



May 29, 1928. I W.- E. CURTIS PROCESS OF MAKING CELLULAR TUBES Filed March 16, 1921.

jar/erzzori 1 2M0 Patented May 29, i928.v

" UNITED A I ornca,

WILL ESPY centers,- OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

riaocnss or MAKING CELLULAR-runes.

Application filedMarch 16, 1921. Serial 110.452,?60.

My present invention relates ingeneral to the art of making tubular structures and more particularly cellular structures and has special reference to the provision of anim proved endless cellular tube and process of producing the'saine. H The particular objects of my invention are the provisionof an improvedtubular structure having therewithin an abutn'ien't which is fixed to thewalls of the tube; the provision of a structure of the character referred to Within which are arranged arplurality of spaced abutments held in predetera mined spaced relationship; the provision of an improved endless tube containing an abutmerit; the provision of an improved oir cular endless tube containing a plurality of spaced abutments which are held in predetermined spaced relationship; the provision of a structure of: the character referred toprovidednvith means whereby a fluid may be introduced into the tube; the provision of an endless circular cellular tube provided With symmetrically arranged abutments and means for introducing fluid into the tube,

follow certainstepswhich are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in the=accompanying draw1ngwhere1n i I Figure l is a sectional elevational view of,

a tube containing a number of abutments implaced therein; a

Figure 2 is a transverse sectlonal' view of,

thetube of Figure 1 showing oneiof the abutments in position therein,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a tubesuch as that shown in Figure 1' after it has been bent into an annular forin with the abutments fixed in place therein, and

' Figure 4: is an elevational view ofthe endless cellular structure of Figure 3', as embodied for use as a hydraulic governor member.

\Vhi le tubular structures of the character referred to have various fields of employment, an important use is as part of a governor in devices for regulating the treatment of substances chronometrically, such as are;

illustrated in my co-pending applications, Serial N 0. 150,470, tiled February 23, 191-7,

and. Serial 425,245, fi-leduNovember [1.9,

Referring more particularly; to, Fig- 5 ures L and 2 of the drawings, it Will-be ob served that have indicated, for purposes of v i v convenience, a straight tube, 10, carrying a number of abutments, 11 The tube,,l0, is

conveniently .cold drawn seam-less common cial tubing andthe abutments, 11, may be discsof such a ma terial,- viz": iron or steel.-

For use in the manufacture: of'hydra'ulic governors, it is by. far preferable to employ mercury; as a retarding agent, and when mercury'is so employed ironor steeltubing should be utilized in View of the fact that such material is chemically inert in. the) presence ofmercury and does notabsorb-j or amalgamate with or contaminate-it,- I

Each of the abutments', 11,;Whi0h is here shown as a disclike diaphraginis .prOvided with anaperture,:12, whereby the fluidoontents of. the finished endless cellular circular governor,.,l3 (see Figure 3) may flow from-Q one of the cells or chamber-s,14,intothenext following one asthe governor revolves about its axis, 15 (see-Figure In producing the endless circular cellular: structureof Figure 3, according to my im- 5 proved process, the tube, LO-,may be preliminarily heated and so caused to expand,

and the relatively cool disc-like perforated diaphr'agms, 11,, are then introduced intoithe tube, 10, through the open endsthereof, and" arranged therein at predetermined are spaced. intervals. r I a x I Inasmuch as the diaphragm-s are carefully fit withinthe interior of thetube, 10, as the tube," 10, shrinks upon cooling the: dialmade with trueedgesso astohave a close phragnis willbe embraced by'the tube, 10,

and held in: intimate contact therewithf The tube, 10, is then given a circular forni as by bending it about a suitable circular This bending will tend slightly to deform the Wall of the tubular structure, 10, causing the tube to embrace and hold the abutments in position, securely fixingtlremato the inner surface of the tubein predetermined spaced relationship, not only frictionally but also by bending the adjacent Wall portions of the tube.

The thickness of the parts, 11,, prevents them from canting or cocking within the tube as it cools or as thebending operation is'carried out.

Owing to the permanent fixation of the perforated diaphragms to the walls of the tube attained by the procedure described, the size of the several cells is maintained constant and invariable, notwithstanding the weight of such volume of mercury as may be required'for use as a governing fluid. v v

After'the bending operation is completed "the ends 16 and 17 of the bent tube are brought together and suitablyjoi'ne d as in;

. dicated at 181 I Then for providing means itor introducing the governing fluid into the tubular struc-'" ture thus produced, a filling opening is made o'f'the joint 18.

as indicated at 19, and is suitably threaded ior the reception of a screw, 20, which serves as removable filler plug "for such opening. Inasmuchas a'slight addition is made to the weight of the structure, with respect to one side ofthe median line, by forming the joint indicated at 18, whether such joint is formed by welding, or otherwise, theaper I ture,"l9 and the filler plug, 20, should be" disposed diametrically opposite to joint, 1;8. jBy varying the weight of the such screw, 20, a very close counterweighting compensationmay be made tor-the weight In order that" the structure, 13,- may be i balanced in all positions, the number of the abutments, 11, should be even rather-than odd, and in order that the fluid which is fed on to the upper surface of any of the abutments may be quite completely discharged therefrom, the orifice of the diaphragm is preferably located closely adjacent the inner perimeter of the annulus 13.

From the foregoing it will be apparent F that I have provided a tubular structure that 'may readily be made to accurate dimensions, and consequentlyone accurate in operation.

Having thus described my invention and 'illustrated'its use, what I claimas-new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent is 1. The method of making cellular tubes which includes the steps of introducing into a tube a plurality of spaced abutments and bending the'tube to-hold the'abutments in position. 1

2; The method of making cellular tubes which includes the steps of introducing into a tubea plurality of spaced abutments and deforming, the tube to hold the abutments in position.

3. Themethod of making cellular tubes whichincludes the steps of introducing into tube a plurality of spaced abutments, and

reducing the diameterof the tube adjacent to said abutments'to hold them in spaced relationship.

4h The method 0t making cellular tubes 1 which includes the steps of heating a .tube, v

introducing into the tube a plurality of relatively spaced abutments, and shrinkingsaid tube whereby said abutments are, held in predetermined spaced relationship.

5. The method of making governor tubes which includes the steps of introducing in a tube an abutment, bending the tube to embrace and hold the abutment, and joining the ends of. the circular tube thus produced.

6. The method of making governor tubes which includes the steps of bending the tube substantially circular and joining the ends of the tubethus produced, providing a filling aperture"substantially diametrically op posite to the joint and introducing a filling member into the aperturewhereby compensatory counterweight for said joint is pro'-- vided; I

7. The method of making cellular governor tubes whichincludes the steps of in troducing within theends of'a tube a plu:

rality- 0t symmetrically spaced abutments,

bending the ,tubesubstantially circularly and therebycausing the tube to embrace said abutments and hold them in predetermined relationship,joining the ends of'the cellular structure thus formed, providing a fillingaperture between two of said abutments and substantially diametrically opposite to the joint and introducing a filling member into the aperture whereby compensatory counterweight for said joint is'provided, and a balance annulusis produce 8. The method providing a bent tube wit partitions therein, which comprises the steps 4 of first positioning the partitionsin a tube,

and then bending thetube with the partia "1105 9. 'As an article of manufacture, acircular tions therein.

structure formed of a bent tube whose ends are joined-together, and which isprovided with a filling opening and means for closing said opening and coinpensatorily counter-V w-eighting forthe joint formed at said ends.

'lOJAsan article of manufacture, ananspaced abutments therein,

posite sides of said median line..

In testimony: whereof I signed my name;-

WILL ESPY. CURTIS. 

